by Fujino Omori
“I was getting so worried because you’d been gone so long. So, where’d you go?”
“Sorry, Runoa, but it’s a secret.”
Syr turned to Runoa to respond, holding a finger up to her lips, as Chloe and Lyu broke into an argument next to them.
The happy smile on the city girl’s face made Runoa moan. “Still…?”
“…Meow? Something happened with the boy?”
“What?”
“Mee-hee-hee, with that good mood, you look like a love-struck young lady, meow.”
There was no fooling Chloe’s eyes and instincts. The young catgirl giddily swished her tail side to side and stepped closer.
Syr cupped her burning cheeks with her hands, unable to keep the grin off her face.
The staff members all smiled in unison with twinkles in their eyes, as if they’d discovered something juicy, when the owner of the bar, a dwarf named Mia, appeared on the other side of the counter.
“Ya sure ya’re ready ta come back?”
“Yes…I’m fine, now.”
Mia took a look at the silver eyes staring up at her and said, “Then stop yer dillydallyin’ an’ get ta work.” She huffed through her nose and turned her back.
“Same goes fer the lot o’ ya!” With that, the rest of the staff members quickly returned to what they should be doing to get The Benevolent Mistress ready for business.
Syr still had the same smile on her face as she went to hang the OPEN sign on the front door to start the day.
“—Thank you for coming to The Benevolent Mistress. Welcome.”
The city girl smiled to greet the day’s first customers as they walked to the front door.
CHAPTER 6
A CERTAIN GODDESS’S LOVE SONG
“The hell’s going on out there?!”
Wham! A fist slammed onto a table set up in the middle of a cloth tent.
The clenched fist belonged to a male deity. The followers of Ares cowered in fear of their leader’s infuriated howls as his golden mane sparkled in the dim light.
“Just as I said, our warriors are being captured by Orario’s forces. Out of our original thirty thousand troops, at least ten thousand are now in the hands of the enemy.”
“I know that! What I’m asking you is why! Why, Marius?”
“Because Orario’s adventurers are stronger than the monsters in our worst nightmares, that’s why.”
The human the god had called Marius remained surprisingly calm in the face of Ares’s rage. Every one of his simple, straightforward answers was accompanied by a long sigh.
They were in Ares Familia’s main base.
Far from the battles taking place against Orario’s Alliance, near the Deep Forest Seoro, a meeting attended by Rakia’s top generals was taking place.
However, it had deteriorated into a useless, one-sided shouting match the moment that Ares had learned of the horrid state of their forces.
“Considering the injured and our captured allies, there is no hope for the front lines to stand their ground, let alone press forward. To make matters worse, merchants have been draining our war funds left and right…”
“Those bastards…DAMN YOU ORARIOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Ares reared back his head and roared at the ceiling of the tent. Marius, on the other hand, let out another long sigh. The rest of the generals were so scared of their god that only Marius, the highest-ranking mortal present, was able to utter negative comments.
The human’s honey-colored hair was a far cry from the god’s brilliant lion’s mane. However, he stood 180 celch tall and had a decently muscular build that wasn’t too thick or too thin. He certainly looked like he belonged among royalty. Still only twenty years old, if he weren’t tired and at his wits’ end, his handsome features matched with a full suit of armor would make this military commander a dignified knight on the battlefield.
His pride as their commander had been entirely crushed by repeated failures in the battle against the Alliance—his grudge against their god was threatening to come to light, mood worsening by the second. Willing himself to remain calm, he sighed yet again.
“I’m sure you’re aware, but we can’t continue this war, now can we? Let’s go home, Lord Ares. If you’ve learned your lesson, please stop this pointless invasion of Orario.”
“GRAH…! Marius, you insolent coward! And your father, Martinus, always obeyed my every command without question!”
“—That’s what earned him the nickname ‘Moronic King’—by trying to make your every whim a reality, dammit!”
“H-how dare you speak to me that way?! I’m this close to revoking your rank and exiling you from the kingdom!”
“You won’t have to. I’ll surrender this position right now! That way you won’t care if I leave the country and fulfill my dream of becoming an adventurer in Orario, right?”
“I refuse. You will do no such thing!”
“So which is it?”
“My prince!” “My prince!” The other generals sensed their red-faced young commander was about to lash out and quickly moved to restrain him.
The crown prince of Rakia had been brought along for this invasion to provide him with valuable experience on the battlefield. The young second-in-command of Ares Familia frowned, a face the envy of every man in his kingdom twisting in an expression of anger as the argument between him and their god, practically a daily ritual at this point, continued to escalate.
With a spirit so strong that it called the fidelity of the queen into question, the prince unloaded all his frustration and anger onto the warmongering god.
“Wake up…! No matter what we do, Garon’s attempt to bring Welf Crozzo back into the fold has failed. In fact, the Guild is demanding money to secure the release of Garon and his men. Our safety net is gone. Dragging out this war is pointless.”
“GRAHHHH…!”
Marius had finally cooled off to the point that he could look Ares in the eye and state the facts. The deity roared back.
It was true. The strategy to obtain Crozzo Magic Swords, their trump cards, was no longer on the table. The war had lost its meaning. Ares’s vision of using Welf’s power to revive their magic-sword battalion and trap the Alliance forces in a pincer attack was now nothing more than a dream beyond a dream.
Marius had never believed that plan would succeed from the start. He wanted nothing more than to retreat as he locked eyes with the God of War…However, the only emotion in the deity’s glaring red eyes was an intense desire to not lose.
“All right, fine, then—I will go into Orario myself!”
“WHAT?!”
“If you worthless excuses for soldiers can’t get the job done, I will personally acquire those swords with my own hands! With them at our side, the glory days of the past will once again be in our grasp…!”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to kidnap Welf Crozzo? He’s Level Two! Raising a hand against him would be suicide! Instant death, I tell you!”
“Enough of that instant-death talk! The target is not the Crozzo boy, it’s his goddess—Hestia!”
Apart from Marius, every general in the tent stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed at Ares’s plan to kidnap a deity.
“It’s just one tiny goddess. I’m sure you maggots can take her from one place to another, right? So, I lead a strike force, we capture her, and we demand Welf Crozzo in a hostage exchange with Orario! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! It’s so perfect, I even surprise myself sometimes!”
“That is the worst, most underhanded ploy imaginable, and it came from your mouth! How the hell do you plan on getting inside the wall in the first place—?”
“How could I have been so blind; this should have been the plan from the start! If the king—no, the god—doesn’t lead his men, they cannot follow! Marius, prepare my horse! We leave under cover of darkness, before that dreadful Freya and her lot know what’s coming!”
“That fool, that divine imbecile…!”
It was impossible to sway the divine king’s m
ind once he made a decision. The other generals quickly jumped to their feet and began preparations. Their youthful commander frowned as he followed the golden-haired god out of the tent at a run.
And so it was that the army of Rakia launched its last gambit at the behest of its god.
The final battle to decide the outcome of this war was at hand. Orario’s patrols, few and far between and practically sleeping on the job, were completely unprepared for an attack so reckless, so crazy that no one could predict its descent on the city.
Today is just as peaceful as any other day inside the city walls.
The sun is shining brightly overhead on a morning when, unlike usual, the army of Rakia is fighting outside the city wall. Word is that they’re trying to draw out the war.
I make my way quickly through the hallways of my home, listening to the birds singing outside the windows, when I spot someone just up ahead and call out to her.
“Miss Haruhime.”
Her golden, fluffy fox tail is wagging back and forth beneath the skirt of her maid outfit.
She’s holding a large basket in both arms, pressing it up against her chest as she looks over her shoulder at me.
“Master Bell. Good morning to you.”
A beautiful smile appears on her cute face as the fox ears on top of her head bow to me because she can’t bend over with the basket in her arms.
It’s still early, before breakfast. The smells wafting up from the kitchen are making me hungry, while Haruhime attends to the housework before we go into the Dungeon. The basket is filled with the freshly washed laundry for everyone in the familia. She’s on her way outside to hang it all up to dry.
I say good morning and walk right up next to her.
“Do you need any help? I’d be glad to lend a hand.”
“It—It’s quite all right, Master Bell. This duty has been assigned to me; I don’t want it to take up any of your time…”
“It’s no problem. Please let me help.”
I quickly take the top half of the mountain of laundry in the basket off the pile. Haruhime’s hands are literally full, so she can’t stop me.
She might have a Status, but carrying that many wet clothes must be a real challenge. She looks back at me with timid eyes, insisting that she could do it by herself. But I just smile at her and carry my half of the pile outside to help her hang everything up.
Everything is set up in the inner courtyard next to the hallway. I help Haruhime tie a clothesline from one wall to another in the place where the afternoon sun will be strongest and start pinning clothes to it.
I leave all the laundry for the goddess, Lilly, Mikoto, and Haruhime to the fox girl while I take care of Welf’s and my own stuff. I know it can’t be helped, since both boys and girls of different races are living here together under one roof, but I do everything I can to avoid looking at the girls’ clothes on the other side of the line. Haruhime is blushing, too. I doubt she’ll hang any underwear out here.
My cheeks are feeling a bit hot as well. Maybe talking with her will help make this a little less awkward.
“Um, Haruhime? Are you getting used to living here?”
“Yes, I am. All thanks to Lady Hestia’s, Lady Lilly’s, Sir Welf’s, and Miss Mikoto’s assistance.”
She adds that of course I’ve been a great help as well and smiles with all her heart.
It’s not that empty, hollow smile she used to make while living in the Pleasure Quarter. It’s a gentle smile, so warm that it feels like the morning sun is shining on me.
I smile back, my eyes almost closing at the same time. I’m glad I got to see her real smile again today.
“Unfortunately…my inefficiency is always causing trouble for everyone…just like Master Bell right now.”
Suddenly that shining smile is replaced by clouds.
“Miss Haruhime, this is nothing…and no one feels that way.”
“No, this is the only way for me to be useful. I must work harder; I must improve…”
She doesn’t seem to believe me. Looking away, her apologetic gaze falls onto the courtyard lawn between us. She rubs her hands up and down the sleeves of her maid outfit, tail listlessly drifting around her ankles.
Despite what she’s saying, I know that she’s working really hard. Probably a little too hard.
Laundry, cooking, and cleaning, all on top of the Dungeon prowling. Not only is she a big help around our home, she’s also a dual supporter and sorcerer in the Dungeon. She’s not used to looking out for herself in the labyrinth, so I’m sure being in that position in the back of our formation is incredibly stressful for her.
The last of the laundry on the line, I turn to face her. Scratching the back of my neck, I string some words together.
“Um, Miss Haruhime…I think you shouldn’t push yourself so hard.”
“Eh?”
“I remember back when I first joined the familia, I was determined to do as much as I could around our home, cooking and cleaning, so that the goddess didn’t have to bother with it…”
Back when Hestia Familia was first formed, it was just the goddess and me.
I made money in the Dungeon and did the housework, just like what Haruhime is doing right now. In the end, I was trying too hard and got sick, which ended up causing more problems for the goddess.
The circumstances might be a bit different now, but there are times the body can’t keep up with what the mind wants to do. Having a Status doesn’t change that. I explain all this to Haruhime. She listens with a surprised look on her face.
“So, what I’m trying to say…How do I put this?”
I’m sure that speeches like this roll off Ouka’s and Finn’s tongues with no problem. Compared to the other familia leaders, this is pathetic…Even so, I put my thoughts into words.
“…Rather than push yourself, I’d be happier seeing you…asking for help.”
I smile, my face burning again.
I wish I could wrap this up with some kind of inspiring speech, but it’s not coming. I scratch my cheek.
She looks at me with quivering eyes, her hands together over the feminine curves in the top part of her maid outfit.
Her eyes start to water, almost as if her spirit has been washed clean by what I said…Her cheeks have taken on a light-pink hue.
“W-well, then…May I ask for Master Bell’s help right now?”
She’s looking up at me through her lashes, almost like she’s shy. Even her voice sounds a bit slow, spacey.
She’s taking my advice! This is great, I’m so happy! Suddenly, she holds out her right arm.
“Would it be all right if you…held my hand…?”
“Huh?”
I blink a few times. Where did that request come from?
I freeze in place, but I’m very aware of the heat pulsing in my cheeks. Sweat running down my face, I try to find the right words to politely decline…Even so, she doesn’t take her hand back, waiting and blushing even darker.
Looking at her fox ears and tail twitching like that, I kinda feel sorry for her. What should I do? I really have no idea, but even so, I extend one trembling hand and take hold of her thin fingers.
“Ah…”
They’re cold.
Not just cold, Haruhime’s fingers are freezing.
It’s already summer, too…Probably doing everyone’s laundry this morning chilled her to the bone.
I move my fingers to encompass her entire hand out of reflex, and I see her shoulders rise. Her whole body is quivering, right down to her tail.
“W-would asking you…to use both hands…be acceptable…?”
“Um, sure…”
I grant her request right away.
I bring up my left hand and hold her cold right hand against both of my palms. Then she puts her left hand outside of my right, our hands overlapping like a double handshake.
…What…is this?
Her trembling has stopped. She closes her eyes and squeezes my hands as if to absorb ev
ery bit of their warmth. Her cheeks—and mine—are bright red.
My heart rate picks up, but my mind starts slowing down, drifting.
“—What do you think you’re doing, Haruhime?”
“Gasp!”
I’ve been holding her hands for about a minute.
Suddenly, a frighteningly low voice calls out her name from nearby. She almost jumps out of her skin.
It catches me by surprise, too. I look over and there’s the goddess, standing with her legs shoulder width apart, arms at her sides, and glaring right at us.
“HIYAA!” She jumps forward, twin black ponytails whipping behind her like ocean waves as she delivers a knife-hand strike to our hands.
Ouch!!
Haruhime and I break apart immediately.
“Bell might have brought that on himself, but you’re quite the troublemaker, Haruhime. I’m going to have to keep an eye on you whether I like it or not, aren’t I?”
“L-Lady Hestia! This is a misunderstanding! There’s no deeper meaning…!”
“No deeper meaning? That burning-red face of yours says otherwise!”
Haruhime might have grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth and not know much about the real world, but that innocence seems to have gotten under the goddess’s skin. I can feel the anger emanating from her.
Her blue eyes glaze over in a flash of fury directed at the renart, forgetting all about me for the moment. But those thrashing ponytails…I can’t move—part of it could be that she saw my pathetic attempt at being the leader. It’s so embarrassing! My silence triggers Haruhime into a series of gestures, desperately trying to explain the situation.
Once she gets to the part about my telling her to ask for help, the goddess’s blue gaze shifts in my direction. Surprisingly, Lady Hestia makes a gentle face and crosses her arms as soon as Haruhime finishes.
“Oh, I see. Well, nothing we can do about that—.”
“Th-then you’re willing to overlook this…!”
“—Is what you thought I was going to say, HUHHHHHHHHH?”
“M-m-m-my deepest apologies!”
Lady Hestia is halfway through an exaggerated, bighearted nod when she suddenly thrusts both fists high into the air in a feint of epic proportions. Haruhime recoils in fright, shrinking back with her hands covering her head. The goddess is waving her fists in the air, her breasts, even bigger than Haruhime’s, jumping about in sync with her flailing.
